Former veterans minister Tobias Ellwood has levelled accusations that the Ministry of Defence deliberately concealed medical records belonging to Cold War-era veterans who participated in nuclear testing programmes, describing the situation as "an absolute cover-up".
Speaking to a national broadcaster's investigative programme, Ellwood stated that he now questions the accuracy of information he previously presented to Parliament regarding the UK's nuclear programme, which had been based on MoD briefings, saying it amounted to "a complete lie".
The dispute centres on medical documentation from approximately 25,000 members of the UK armed services, scientists and civilians who took part in nuclear testing operations between 1952 and 1967 at locations including Australia and multiple Pacific islands. Veterans have long sought access to blood and urine test results, arguing these records could substantiate claims that nuclear exposure caused lasting health damage.
An MoD spokesperson countered that the government had performed an "extensive records discovery exercise" to investigate questions surrounding the programme, with findings made publicly available in full.
What health problems have veterans reported?
Participants in the testing programme have attributed a range of serious medical conditions to their exposure to nuclear radiation. These include cancers affecting the liver, bone, bowel, skin and brain, leukaemia, cardiovascular disease, stillbirths and inherited birth defects across subsequent generations.
What does Ellwood claim about information withholding?
Ellwood, who held the position of junior defence minister from June 2017 to July 2019, contends that successive ministers received briefings instructing them to state publicly that no evidence existed to assist nuclear test veterans, despite the MoD holding thousands of relevant documents. He alleges the information was "deliberately withheld" and suggests there was a deliberate strategy to delay disclosure until surviving veterans had died.
"The more you unpick this story, the more murky, the more shady, the concerning it becomes,"Ellwood told the broadcaster, characterising the matter as surpassing previous major institutional scandals including the infected blood, Windrush and Post Office controversies
"because of the longevity... and the number of people that have been involved".
He described the situation as
"a scandal. It's absolutely tarnished the reputation of the MoD."
Ellwood has called for an independent tribunal to examine the matter, questioning why the MoD chose to
"close ranks and said 'nothing to see here', and then told ministers such as me 'actually we haven't got that information and we're not willing to help the veterans'?"
What records exercise has the MoD undertaken?
The ministry committed in 2024 to conducting a thorough examination of all information held regarding the nuclear testing programme and has subsequently released five reports. According to the Defence records exercise, the UK Health Security Agency provided a list of 21,357 named veterans in January 2026 for cross-checking purposes. The exercise found that surviving records matching these veterans were either marked "Do Not Destroy" or had already been transferred to the National Archives.
In the published reports, the MoD identified several factors that affected medical record-keeping practices, including the absence of a centralised system and extensive Cold War-era "secrecy" protocols.
What is happening with document declassification?
Ellwood acknowledged that certain documents are scheduled for transfer to the National Archives, but expressed concern that they would remain substantially redacted.
"They have to be declassified. This isn't enough to help the veterans, who understandably remain deeply angry."
According to the National Archives, the transfer of Merlin Database records from the Atomic Weapons Establishment commenced in September 2025 and is anticipated to require approximately one year for completion. The records are held in digital format, with the first batch already made available online.
What is the MoD's response?
An MoD spokesperson stated that the government had examined
"tens of thousands of documents to address long-standing questions from veterans about blood and urine testing policies during the nuclear testing programme"and that findings had been released
"in its entirety following regular engagement between Ministers, nuclear test veterans and community groups throughout the process."
The spokesperson added:
"We owe an enduring debt of gratitude to the more than 22,000 Service personnel, scientists and civilians who contributed to the UK's nuclear testing programme and helped safeguard our national security."
What is the broader context?
This controversy reflects a pattern of institutional challenges within the MoD. A separate report found that Cold War secrecy hindered the management of nuclear test veterans' medical records, complicating their ability to access evidence for compensation claims. Additionally, a Commons committee determined that the MoD's breach of Afghan relocation data represented a foreseeable systemic failure, exposing details of more than 18,500 applicants.
What happens next?
The Merlin Database transfer from the Atomic Weapons Establishment to the National Archives is expected to continue throughout 2026, with further tranches of records becoming available online as the process progresses. The government has not yet responded to calls for an independent tribunal into the matter.
Key Facts
- Approximately 25,000 UK service personnel, scientists and civilians participated in nuclear testing between 1952 and 1967 at sites in Australia and the Pacific
- Veterans have reported serious health conditions including multiple cancer types, leukaemia and inherited birth defects allegedly linked to radiation exposure
- The UK Health Security Agency provided a list of 21,357 named veterans in January 2026 for cross-checking against surviving records
- The National Archives began transferring Merlin Database records in September 2025, with completion expected around September 2026
- Former defence minister Tobias Ellwood has called for an independent tribunal to investigate the handling of veterans' medical records
